Looking through the history of winter holidays in Rus', you understand that most of the holidays have sunk into oblivion, and mentions of them can only be found on the pages of history. It is not so far left before the onset of traditional New Year's holidays, and we decided to do short review winter holidays, briefly describe their features.

The calendar of winter holidays opens with one of the twelve church holidays - the Entry into the Temple of the Virgin Mary, celebrated on December 4th. It was believed that it was from this moment that winter officially came into its own. It was on this day that in the old days they tried the sleigh ride. This right was given to the newlyweds on a beautiful, light painted sleigh.

December 7 is the day of Katerina the Sunny. On this day, sleigh races were traditionally held in Rus'. The whole village gathered on some hillock, and watched the breathtaking sight of sleighs winding along a snowy road. The evening “under Catherine” was considered one of the best for fortune telling and divination.

New Year In Russia, January 1 was celebrated by decree of Emperor Peter I. It was he who ordered the decoration of houses and streets New Year's decorations and setting off fireworks, which he simply adored.

But the custom of decorating a Christmas tree came later and was borrowed from the Germans. Did you know that the first Christmas trees were sold in candy stores because they were decorated with sweets? And only then, after a certain number of years, the Christmas tree could be bought at the market in Moscow.

The holiday of Vasiliev's evening falls on the eve of the Old New Year - January 13, just at the time when a new chronology was introduced in Russia. We celebrated this day by singing carols. The mummers went from house to house singing and putting treats from generous owners into a bag prepared for this occasion. Nowadays, this holiday does not lose its relevance, and, as statistics show, every second resident of our country celebrates the Old New Year. After all, this is an occasion to see your loved ones and loved ones once again; in the bustle of everyday life, sometimes it is not so easy to do this.

The Feast of the Nativity of Christ is one of the most important holidays of the winter calendar. In terms of the solemnity of the celebration, Christmas is inferior to another Orthodox holiday- The Resurrection of Christ (Easter), but in the West it is the most important holiday of the year.

The most accurate fortune telling fell on the holy week before the feast of Epiphany (celebrated on January 19). Both science and the church consider fortune telling an empty superstition, but people nevertheless turn to this kind of predictions of the future.

On February 15, the church holiday of the Presentation of the Lord is celebrated. On this day, according to the narration of the Evangelist Luke, the Mother of God with the Child Christ in her arms came to the Jerusalem Temple.

On February 23, the whole country celebrates Defender of the Fatherland Day. It would be a little wrong if on this day we congratulate only military personnel. Every man, regardless of his status and type of activity, is first of all a defender of his Motherland, his family. The older generation remembers that this holiday was called the Birthday of the Red Army, in Soviet time it bore the proud name - Day of the Soviet Army and Navy, but no matter what it is called, for us it is, first of all, the Day of Real Men. After all, if real men are nearby, then we feel completely safe.

And, of course, Maslenitsa. This holiday was considered the most fun in Rus', and even now it is celebrated no less interestingly. The whole day was like a continuous kaleidoscope of different fun. This includes sledding, a serious wall-to-wall fight, as well as fist fights, and, of course, the most important thing - a delicacy of pancakes! In terms of the scope of the celebration, Maslenitsa is similar to foreign carnivals. During Maslenitsa it was customary to visit close relatives, friends, and neighbors. IN last days Maslenitsa made a doll out of straw, which was dressed up and seated in a large sleigh, followed by mummers, singing songs. On Sunday evening, the effigy of Maslenitsa was burned in the presence of the entire village on a bonfire built on a hill near the village - with jokes and shouts. Thus, it was believed that winter would finally recede and the long-awaited warming would come.

The modern population does not celebrate all the holidays described above, and if they do, it is not celebrated on such a grand scale as they did in Rus'. Nowadays, we mainly celebrate New Year, Christmas, Defender of the Fatherland Day and Maslenitsa. Gradually, the traditions that the previous generation adhered to during celebrations are fading into the background.

For our ancestors, who lived in ancient times in Rus', holidays were an important part of both family and public life. For many centuries, the Russian people honored and sacredly preserved their traditions, passed on from father to son in every generation.

The daily life of an ordinary Russian person in those days was difficult and dedicated to the hard work of obtaining his daily bread, so holidays were a special event for him, a kind of sacred day, when the life of the entire community merged with their sacred values, the spirits of their ancestors and their covenants.

Traditional Russian holidays included a complete ban on any daily activity (mowing, plowing, chopping wood, sewing, weaving, cleaning, etc.). During the holiday, all people had to dress in festive clothes, rejoice and have fun, conduct only joyful, pleasant conversations; failure to comply with these rules was subject to a fine or even punishment in the form of lashing.

Each season played its own specific role in the life of a Russian person. The winter period, free from work on the land, was especially famous for its festivities, noisy fun and games.

The main Russian holidays in Rus':

Winter

On January 7 (December 25), the Russian Orthodox people celebrated Christmas. This holiday dedicated to the birth God's son Jesus Christ in Bethlehem, ends the Nativity fast, which lasts for 40 days. In anticipation of it, people prepared to come to him with clean souls and bodies: they washed and cleaned their homes, went to the bathhouse, put on clean holiday clothes, helped the poor and needy, and distributed alms. January 6 on Christmas Eve for a big festive table, at which the obligatory first course was the ritual porridge kutya or sochivo, the whole family gathered. They started dinner after the first star appeared, eating silently and solemnly. After Christmas came the so-called holy days, which lasted until Epiphany, during which it was customary to go from house to house and glorify Jesus Christ with prayers and chants.

Christmastide (Holiday week)

Holidays among the ancient Slavs, and then turned into church celebrations, the days of Christmastide, begin from the first star on Christmas Eve until the holiday of Epiphany, the blessing of water (“from the star to the water”). The first week of Christmastide is called Christmastide week, associated with Slavic mythology associated with the turn of winter to summer, there is more sun, less darkness. During this week, in the evenings, called holy evenings, holiness was often violated by mythological rituals of fortune-telling, which was not welcomed by the church, and during the day, magicians dressed in clothes with flags and musical instruments walked the streets, entered houses and amused the people.

On January 19, Orthodox Epiphany was celebrated, dedicated to the sacrament of the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, on this day the Great Blessing of Water was performed in all churches and temples, all water in reservoirs and wells was considered holy and had unique properties. medicinal properties. Our ancestors believed that holy water could not spoil and kept it in the red corner under the icons, and believed that this was the best cure for all ailments, both physical and spiritual. On rivers, lakes and other bodies of water, they made a special ice hole in the shape of a cross called a Jordan, swimming in which was considered a godly and healing activity that relieved illnesses and all sorts of misfortunes for the whole year.

At the very end of winter, when, according to the beliefs of our ancestors, the Red Spring, with the help of warmth and light, drove away the cold and cold, the Maslenitsa holiday began, known for its free joy, which lasted for a whole week on the eve of Lent. At this time, it was customary to bake pancakes, which were considered a symbol of the sun, go to visit each other, have fun and dress up, sled down the hills, and on the final Forgiveness Sunday, burn and bury a scarecrow symbol of the defeated winter.

Spring

On this feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, although in Orthodoxy there is no pre-celebration, since Holy Week begins next, believers bring willow branches to the church (in Slavic they replaced palm branches), which at Matins after all-night vigil sprinkled with holy water. Then the Orthodox decorate icons in their homes with consecrated willow trees.

Holy Easter was considered the greatest holiday of all Christian people in Rus'; on this day the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his transition from death on Earth to life in heaven was revered. People cleaned and decorated their houses, put on festive clothes, made sure to attend Easter services in churches and temples, went to visit each other, treating each other to Easter colored eggs and Easter cakes after Lent. When meeting people they said “Christ is Risen!”, in response they should say “Truly He is Risen!” and kiss three times.

The first Sunday after Easter was called Krasnaya Gorka or Fomin's Day (on behalf of the Apostle Thomas, who did not believe in the resurrection of Christ), it was a symbol of the arrival of spring and the long-awaited warmth. On this holiday, folk festivities began at night and lasted the whole day, young people danced in circles, rode on swings, young guys met and got to know girls. Festive tables were set with abundant food: fried eggs, loaves in the shape of the sun.

Summer

One of the most significant holidays of the summer was Ivan Kupala or Midsummer's Day, named in honor of John the Baptist and celebrated on the day from July 6 to 7, in summer solstice. This holiday has ethnic origins and deep pagan roots. On this day they burn large bonfires, jump over them, symbolizing the cleansing of the body and spirit from sinful thoughts and actions, dance in circles, weave beautiful wreaths of flowers and meadow grass, set them adrift and use them to tell fortunes about their betrothed.

One of the national holidays revered since ancient times, which is associated with many beliefs, signs and prohibitions. On the eve of the holiday, ritual cookies were baked on Thursday and Friday and field work was stopped. And on Elijah’s day itself it was strictly forbidden to carry out any household work; it was believed that it would not bring results. A “brotherhood” was held, all residents of nearby villages were invited to a common meal, and after the refreshments they ended with folk festivities with songs and dances. And most importantly, Ilya’s day is considered the border between summer and autumn, when the water becomes cold, the evenings are cool, and the first signs of autumn gilding appear on the trees.

In the middle of the last summer month, namely August 14 (1), Orthodox Christians celebrated the holiday of the Honey Savior (saved from the word savior), which honored the death of the seven Maccabean martyrs, who were martyred for their Christian faith by the ancient Syrian king Antiochus. The houses were sprinkled with poppy seeds, protecting them from evil spirits; the first honeycombs, collected on this day, when the bees stopped collecting nectar, were taken to the temple for consecration. This day symbolized farewell to summer, after which the days became shorter, the nights longer, and the weather cooler.

On August 19 (6), Apple Day or the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord began; among our ancestors it was one of the very first harvest festivals, symbolizing the beginning of autumn and the withering of nature. Only with its onset could the ancient Slavs eat apples from the new harvest, which were necessarily consecrated in the church. The festive tables were set and they began to eat grapes and pears.

The last, Third Spas (Bread or Nut) was celebrated on August 29 (16), on this day the harvest season ended and housewives could bake bread from the new grain harvest. Festive loaves were blessed in churches, and nuts were also brought there, which were just ripe at that time. Finishing the harvest, farmers always knitted the last “birthday sheaf”.

Autumn

One of the most revered autumn holidays that came to the ancient Slavs from Byzantium was Intercession Day, celebrated on October 14 (1). The holiday is dedicated to an event that occurred in the 10th century in Constantinople, when the city was besieged by the Saracens, and the townspeople brought prayers for help to the Holy Mother of God in temples and churches. The Blessed Virgin Mary heard their requests and, removing the veil from their heads, hid them from their enemies and saved the city. At this time, the harvesting work was completely completed, preparations for winter began, round dances and festivities ended, and gatherings with handicrafts, chants and conversations began. On this day, tables were set with treats, gifts were brought to the poor and orphans, attendance at church services was obligatory, and the time for wedding celebrations began. Marriage during the Intercession was considered particularly happy, rich and long-lasting.

December is the first month of winter. Jelly. Student. Zazimnik. Breast.

* December ends the year, winter begins.

Introduction. Vvedensky early frosts. On introduction, winter is introduced. The first winter fairs began, and with them the first sleigh rides for festivities. The custom of “showing off young” - taking out a young wife in her first year for showing to all the people was obligatory observed on this day.

December 22 - Anna. Winter solstice

Carols - until mid-January (winter Christmastide). The mummers walk around the courtyards with songs and jokes, begging for treats.

25 Dec - Spiridon turn. Spiridon-solstice. "sun for summer, winter for frost."

January

Prosinets, turning point of winter, winter break, among the Little Russians - a cut,

Autumn – new year, autumn, blue - radiance, ov (pro) - prefix - small. Small the beginning of a new glow. Ideas about the revival of sunlight. In another meaning - to sow, seed, Start life. Christmastide - the winter solstice, opens the people's solar year. Lasted 12 days, according to the number of months of the year.

Christmas Eve December 24/6th January Burning fires “warms the dead ancestors.” Clicking carols, Ovsenya and Plow (songs of praise to the plow are chanted)

Christmas December 25/Jan. 7 - the day of the winter solstice, the awakening of the sun after winter. The passing of the old year and the beginning of a new one, the birth of a new sun, The border between old and new is a “loophole for evil spirits.” - the beginning of Christmastide. (songs - Kolyada, Vinogradie (grapes -

garden - well-being), Shchedrovka, Avsen) In folklore - caroling, youth games, agricultural magic (spring rituals), fortune telling (the most extensive are connections with rampant evil spirits ) , mummering, commemoration of ancestors. Rich carol. Ritual outrages. Caroling - ritual walk by groups of villagers during Christmastide, singing carols. Songs of an agrarian orientation, magnifying the owners, glorifying Christ (after the adoption of Christianity) Carolers- “people from another world”, ancestors. Giving to them is a sacrifice to the ancestors. Costumes: animals, “evil spirits”, representatives of non-peasant, alien environment (lady, paramedic, etc.) Yuletide games of an erotic nature. Two themes predominate: marriage and funerals . Eroticism- a remnant of an ancient ritual, since the ancient pagan semantics of the holiday is in the renewal of the Sun-Dazhdbog, and the conception of the natural fertile force, Yarila. The meaning of pagan Christmas games is farewell to the dying year and the joy of the birth of a new one. Later, the confinement of erotic games to Christmastide was also explained by the approach of the meat-eater - the time of matchmaking and weddings. Christmastide was divided into two parts: Holy Evenings and Terrible Evenings.

Holy Evenings - from Christmas Eve to Vasilyev Vechera (Shchedrets - Shchedry Vechera), Terrible Evenings from Vasilyev's Day to Epiphany. The Christmas tree (later, from Europe) is a symbol of the tree of heaven, hung with apples and nuts (fruits). Unthreshed sheaf Grandfather, straw and hay on the table, going from house to house with a plow, sprinkling grain, fortune-telling about the harvest, grain (symbol of conception) - everything speaks of sowing, harvest, the abundance of fruits desired in the coming year. meal (uzvar, porridge - homeland, honey, kutia - funeral)

According to the church calendar:

Nativity - the twelfth holiday. Jesus Christ is the “Sun of Truth.” He was born of the Virgin Mary, who immaculately conceived from the Holy Spirit. Glorification of Christ - ritual circumambulation

peasant households with congratulations and wishes for well-being, sang “Christmas” - the Christmas troparion. The youth “glorified” with a star (in honor of the star that led the Magi to the cradle of Jesus) or a nativity scene (a mechanical puppet theater depicting the scene of the Nativity of Christ.

Vasiliev's day 1 / January 14 Terrible (Vorozhnye, passionate) evenings that lasted until the Epiphany of the Lord - the middle of the Christmas holidays, the Day of the New Solar Year.. Lenten carols. Agrarian carols, the peak of Christmas fortune-telling, hearty meals. Special dish: “Caesaret” roasted pig. (St. Basil is the patron saint of pigs). The Caesaretian pig is a relic of the ancient Slavic ritual of sacrifices to the gods in exchange for prosperity. From this day forward, permission to eat pork. From Vasiliev's Day to Epiphany there were many magical rituals, because... was particularly “rambunctious” devilry. The ritual of sprinkling marks the spring insemination of Mother Earth, who enters into a marriage union with the “enlightened” (goddess Spring) Sky. Grains are a symbol of the fertilizing seed, rain and sun rays. (Same sprinkles at weddings). SOW-SHINE-OATS. Ovsen is the god who ignites the solar wheel, giving light to the world (Afanasyev)

The Christmas holidays are ending.

Baptism 6 / January 19 . Among the pagans - vodokres - , religious ablutions among pagans on the holiday of Kolyada, caused by the thought of freeing the waters with the turn of the sun, transforming them into living streams, bringing renewal and the power of fertility. The end of the Yuletide holidays, a spark of heavenly fire (Cres) from the Svarog Forge falls into the waters of the Earth, endowing them with miraculous powers. properties. In Christianity, the day of exorcism and cleansing of people from sins. The sky opens - prayer will be heard. Epiphany water blessing is the purification of waters from evil spirits that filled the world during the New Year (Yuletide). Those who participated in mummers and games especially diligently cleansed themselves of sins in the Epiphany ice hole in the Jordan. Rites of consecration of cattle. On Epiphany Christmas Eve - remembrance of the dead. On this day, brides' viewings were held. “Epiphany handshake means a happy family.” After this day comes the meat-eater. (January 20) Beginning of weddings.

Winter in Russia is rich not only in snow and frost, but also in holidays. Moreover, many of them are not just “red days of the calendar”, but real celebrations, accompanied by fun festivities, as well as weekends.

What winter holidays are there in Russia? When and how are they celebrated?

St. Nicolas day

December 19th is pleasant memory from the childhood of many Russians. It was on this day that it was previously customary to give gifts to children. A few decades ago, on this winter children's holiday, letters were written not to Santa Claus, but to St. Nicholas. This custom appeared thanks to one legend.

In ancient times, there lived in Rus' a poor man who did not make any fortune. But he had three daughters, whose maintenance fell on the shoulders of the father. And in order to somehow improve his financial condition, the father sent his daughters to earn money, but in a sinful way - through fornication. Nicholas the Wonderworker found out about this and decided to save the girls from such a life. For three nights in a row, he secretly entered each room and left each a gold bar. It is not known how, but the people learned about this noble deed.

After a while, when the Day of the Savior Nicholas became a holiday, one of the customs was to write a letter with a request to Nicholas. Children especially loved this holiday. After all, their parents gave them gifts secretly, supposedly from the Wonderworker.

New Year. Fun and bright

The series of winter holidays begins with the main celebration - the New Year. The official date is January 1, legalized by Peter I in 1699. Many people probably know that until the 15th century, New Year was celebrated in March, and since the 15th century - in September. And we owe winter festivities and a decorated Christmas tree only to Peter.

And what is New Year without traditions?

The main and most enjoyable thing is decorating the Christmas tree. After the New Year became a Russian winter holiday, it was customary to decorate spruce branches in the houses of the nobility. But full-fledged Christmas trees began to be erected only in the 30s of the 19th century.

In the same 19th century, another New Year’s tradition appeared and took root - drinking champagne on the holiday. True, at first the drink was received with skepticism: its “exploding” cork and abundance of effervescent bubbles frightened the Soviet people, who were unaccustomed to such drinks.

A magnificent feast. It’s hard to imagine a celebration without this tradition. Decorating the table not only with dishes, but also with beautiful decorations became fashionable even during the reign of Alexandra III. Special attention paid attention to the table setting: on the tables, in addition to a beautiful set, there were candles, fir branches, exquisite napkins and tablecloths. The presentation of the dishes was also given due attention. But an innovation was the design of the menu: the names of the dishes served were written on beautiful cards with monograms and other patterns.

Festive celebration. Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Russians have had a new tradition - to celebrate the New Year at home, with family and friends, and after midnight to go have fun in restaurants or other entertainment places. IN modern Russia It has become popular to celebrate the celebration on Red Square, where concerts, mass ice skating and fireworks are held.

Write According to one version, this tradition passed to Russia from the USA. American children write letters to the “analogue” of our Father Frost - Santa Claus. According to legends, only those children who have behaved well all year can apply for gifts.

The night from December 31 to January 1 is considered magical. To be more precise, that single minute, which is the boundary of the change of times. It is while it lasts that it is customary to make a wish.

So, we can say that the winter holiday New Year is endowed not only with magic, but also with mysticism.

Christmas

The Nativity of Christ is celebrated on January 7th. Since it is included in the category of New Year holidays, the tree is not yet removed for Christmas. Lush feasts are not organized, but in some religious families they prepare their own for the celebration. traditional dishes. The churches hold night services, which gather large numbers of people of all ages under the dome. The service in the name of the birth of Christ lasts all night.

A fast is established 40 days before Christmas, which becomes especially strict on January 6, the eve of the holiday. The fast ends on January 7th.

old New Year

Old in the old style) is a Russian winter holiday, celebrating its centenary in 2018. It is since 1918 that every year on January 14, or, more precisely, on the night from 13 to 14, this celebration takes place.

However, not many people celebrate it, and not as grandly as the New Year. But this is another reason to gather with family or friends and watch the repeat of the New Year’s television program.

In the Old New Year, it is customary to go from house to house and “sow.” Children or adults go from house to house and sprinkle the threshold of the house with grain, saying: “I sow, I sow, I sow, Happy New Year!” This tradition has been preserved since ancient times, when the New Year was celebrated in the spring. And sowing is a wish for a good harvest.

Baptism

January 19 - Epiphany of the Lord. Main feature holiday is Epiphany water, which on this day acquires healing properties. From early morning people rush to the church for the blessing of water. At night, mass swimming takes place in ice holes under open air. It is on January 19 that everyone expects Epiphany frosts - the most severe of the entire winter. This fuels interest in swimming. It is believed that after swimming in ice water, a person not only improves his health, but is also “born again” - he takes off the burden of problems and feels free.

Previously, on January 19, it was customary to remove Christmas tree decorations until next year and burn the tree. Now this is irrelevant.

Valentine's Day

A very popular holiday is celebrated on February 14 - Valentine's Day, or Valentine's Day. This is a borrowed celebration that is firmly rooted in Russia and has won popular love. Even the original Russian Peter and Fevronia (July 8) is not celebrated as widely as Valentine's Day.

Defender of the Fatherland Day

February 23 is Defender of the Fatherland Day, when it is customary to congratulate all men, regardless of whether they are involved in the army. In fact, all men are defenders of the Motherland.

The holiday is dedicated to the creation of the Red Army in 1918. But it began to be celebrated 4 years later, accompanied by military parades.

What other holidays are there in Russia?

The above celebrations are the most popular in the country. They are celebrated according to all the rules of festivities, and most of them include days off.

However, Russian winter holidays do not end there. There are also many original Russian festivities that date back to the times of paganism. Many of them remain only rumors and are not celebrated as before. But they cannot be left out.

December

1. December 1 is the holiday of the beginning of winter. In ancient times, the first day of winter was a reference point for the entire period, until spring. They said this: “Same as Plato and Roman, so is winter for us!” That is, if the day of December 1 begins with frost, then the whole winter will not be warm. On this holiday, people went out and had fun, welcoming the new season.
2. December 7 is the celebration of Catherine the Sunny. On this day, a period of fortune-telling for the betrothed was opened, which lasted until the January Christmastide. Another feature of “Ekaterina” was sleigh rides. Their conduct carried not only an entertaining meaning, but also a psychological one. Sledding relieved all mental burdens and worries.
3. December 9 - St. George's Day is another winter holiday celebrated in Rus', and now in Russia. Even before the adoption of Christianity in Rus', this day was the most important in December. By the way, the saying “Here’s St. George’s Day for you, grandma,” is dedicated to this holiday. In 1607, it was “accidentally abandoned” as a reaction to the fact that serfdom “started” in Russia.
4. December 13 - Andrew the First-Called. The celebration is dedicated to the first disciple of Christ, who said that a new faith would soon spread in Rus'. This holiday was especially loved by unmarried virgins, who actively began to tell fortunes about their betrothed and pray, asking God to send a good spouse. It was believed that it was in prayers that they bear fruit.
5. December 19 - Nikola Winter. This is the time to honor the elders of the clan.
6. December 22 - Anna Dark (or Winter). The time of the winter solstice, when the sun “retuned” to spring.
7. December 25 - Spiridon-Solstice. From that moment on, people glorified the sun, drew circles as a symbol, and held celebrations.
8. December 31 is not only a New Year celebration. Centuries ago, this day was called the End of the Cold Month. After it, the sun gained momentum and headed towards spring. On this day, it was customary to keep the fire burning in the stove or using candles or bonfires. It was believed that this not only helps the sun, but also scares away evil spirits. Now such fire has been replaced with Christmas tree garlands and holiday candles.

January

1. January 1 is the first day of the New Year. But before the decree of Peter I, January 1 was the date of veneration of the holy Christian martyr Boniface.
2. January 2 is the day of Ignatius the God-Bearer.
3. January 6 - Christmas Eve.
4. January 25 is Tatiana's day.

February

1. February 10 - Kudesy. This is a date of honor and respect for Domovoy, the keeper of the hearth. On this day, it was customary to appease a representative of evil spirits who brings only good. Treats were left on the table as a sign that the Brownie would not leave the house and stop playing tricks.
2. February 15 - Meeting, that is, the “middle” between summer and winter. From that moment on, people lived in anticipation of spring and early warmth. On February 15, all people's prayers were addressed to the sun, to requests for its imminent arrival. If the weather was sunny that day, it meant that spring was just around the corner. But if it was cloudy, it means the frosts will make themselves known.
3. February 24 - Vlasiev Day - the date of veneration of the pagan God Veles, patron of livestock and all animals.
4. The last week of February is farewell to winter, Maslenitsa.

P.S.

Winter celebrations are the most fun celebrations of the year, accompanied by lush festivities and grand feasts. And the abundance of snow and frost only increases the enthusiasm and desire to continue the celebration outside.

There are many of them. And this is connected with the amazing history of our state, which is many, many centuries old. Some scientists count thirteen of them and date back to the reign of the Varangian Rurik. Officially, the 1153rd anniversary of Russia was celebrated in 2015. And the first mention of Rus' was discovered in chronicles dating back to 862. By the way, “Russia” is not an original Russian name: the Greeks named our ancient state with it. And somehow it naturally stuck with us. What is it Ancient Rus'? In addition to the main thing - powers, these are customs, traditions, beliefs and the like, which have developed over centuries and have taken root with us, even if against the backdrop of modernity they look archaic, divorced from reality, stuffed to the gills with technologies on a cosmic scale that our ancestors never dreamed of. .

Official holidays, state holidays

Of course, in Mother Russia they come first. And there are more than three hundred of them. To paraphrase the great Gogol, we can say: “Which Russian doesn’t like good holidays?!” Among the popular and beloved state ones are International Day, May Day, and so on and so on in order. A few years ago they added . And although it does not have official or state status, the holiday is declared a day off.

And how many professional holidays we have! Let's start with peaceful professions - Dentist Day, Day Russian science, Transport Police Day, Cosmonautics Day, Geodesy and Cartography Workers Day. Let's continue - related to military historical and memorable events - Navy Day, Engineering Troops Day, Tankman Day, Rocket Forces and Artillery Day, Day of the defeat of the Nazi troops by Soviet troops in Battle of Stalingrad(1943) Day of Military Glory - the list goes on. And there are, although purely professional, widely celebrated by the population - Workers' Day Agriculture, Day of Trade Workers, Day of Consumer Services and Housing and Communal Services Workers - and the list goes on. There are 365 days in a year on the planet, in a leap year there are a day more, 366. And almost every day we celebrate something, celebrate something. This is how it happened in Russia!

National holidays stand apart

And so they, as races, are closely connected with faith (religion), customs and traditions. Let's take Easter for example. During the Soviet era, especially for communists and Komsomol members, celebrating it was not only not recommended, but strictly forbidden! "Religion is the opium of the people!" This expression, which later became popular, was first uttered by the English socialist Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875). Then it was actively used by Lenin in the fight against religion. The result was that churches and temples were destroyed, and clergy were persecuted for their faith in God. It got to the point that the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was blown up in Moscow. But hard times passed and it was restored, including with money raised by the people. And Easter has now become one of the most beloved national holidays and is celebrated widely, as in the old days - they paint eggs, bake Easter cakes, greet each other: “Christ is Risen” and answer: “Truly He is Risen!” Easter treats are illuminated in the church and generously distributed to relatives, friends, orphans, and the poor. This is the custom.

The custom of celebrating the Old New Year has also taken root in Russia. All over the world people are very surprised by this. And for Russians, this is another reason to meet at the festive table, once again celebrate the onset of the New Year, enjoy watching Eldar Ryazanov’s favorite sparkling comedy “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!”, and for some, “Blue Light” - and you never know entertainment programs shown on Russian television during the Old New Year! The origin of this popular holiday is explained by the thirteen-day discrepancy between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The latter is used throughout the world. This is where the “old style” came from. According to him, on January 13, we and many other countries celebrate the Old New Year. As, indeed, a little later - New Year's Day eastern calendar, which falls on the night of January 27-28.

Among the popular holidays are Trinity, Holy Week, Apple Saved, Maslenitsa, Palm Week, Intercession Day, Clean Monday, Elijah's Day, Christmastide, Epiphany Eve, Peter and Fevronia Day, Epiphany and others. Let's look at some of them in more detail.